Seator Birmingham Replies.

[Banjo]

Thank you for your recent email regarding the Disability Support Pension
and overseas travel. I apologise for the delay in responding.

In March, the Labor Government flagged possible changes to the Social
Security Act seeking to close a loophole in the overseas travel
provisions of the Disability Support Pension (DSP). As you may be aware,
currently disability pensioners may leave Australia for a period of up
to 13 weeks.

The Labor Government's proposed changes would be aimed at a number of
recipients of the DSP who live permanently overseas but return to
Australia every 13 weeks to retain this pension.

I also understand they propose that an additional rule would be
introduced requiring a recipient's permanent place of residence to be
Australia.

As yet, the Gillard Government has not introduced any legislation to
enact these proposed changes.

The Coalition will carefully consider any legislation put before
Parliament on this matter and I will certainly bear your concerns in
mind during these policy discussions.

Once again, thank you for your email. I would be happy to keep you
updated on any developments in this area but in the meantime, please do
not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further assistance.

Yours sincerely

Simon Birmingham

[Banjo]

My reply.

Dear Senator Birmingham,

thank you for your reply.

I would be obliged if you could explain to me how the government benefits from keeping DSP recipients, whom Centrelink have deemed to be unemployable. in the country?
It would be far simpler for all concerned to allow them the same privilege as Age Pensioners who can travel outside the country indefinitely.

I fully support that people suitable for work place training make them selves available for it, but those of us assessed as unemployable should have the same freedoms as any other Australian citizen,

regards,

[Banjo]

www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/

[Banjo]

Birmingham gets back to me.

Dear Banjo



Thank you for your reply.



Unfortunately, that is a question for the Government.



Currently, the Gillard Labor Government has still not introduced any legislation or provided any briefings to the Opposition on this matter, leaving my ability to advise on their motivations quite limited.



A media release of the 28th of March from the former Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten MP, does seem to indicate that it could be a cost saving measure. I have attached this release for your information. However, the intent of the legislation will become more apparent once these reforms are presented to the Parliament.



Regrettably I cannot provide more information at this time but will certainly keep you abreast of any developments in the coming months.



Once again, thank you for your email.



Yours sincerely,

Simon Birmingham

[rodcourt49]

..seeing as some of you are have established contact already with these people, can you inquire if the proposed amendments are to be 'grandfathered'..if so then those of us who are already here will not be affected, but those new applicants will be as of the enacted date.
(Of course we will not know what the amendments are until the questions are tabled in the House of Reps)...they maybe totally revamped.
This would make good sense as the 'grandfathering' process has been applied in the past, when the reporting requirement for those on the Portability Programme were required to return to Australia each 26 weeks.
I know of one such person who has never been required to return to Australia..then the 6 month reporting condition was amended in 2005 to 13 weeks.
It would interesting to know how many DSP about and what their reporting conditions are!
Would a simple Poll help?
Thoughts appreciated.
ROD.

PS. (Hearsay and not verified..take it for what it's worth..as good as any other info we may hear).
I was talking a chap last night who was at a function in Australia recently..a spokesperson from 'C' was there and mentioned Centrelink will be undergoing a massive stream-lining process..when pushed about the proposed amendments as to reporting conditions of 13 weeks, the spokesperson said they hoped to reduce it to 'one month'.

[Banjo]

I've had the best results from this guy so I've sent off another email.

Dear Senator Birmingham,

I'd like to thank you for the advice and information you have given me in the past.

I was pleased to see your party block the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010 in the Senate, although I suspect it had little to do with the rights of free Australians Disability Support Pension recipients to travel overseas without losing their pension.

I'd like to ask you when and whether you think the bill will be passed. About what time next year do you think it will become law?
A number of Australians are concerned about this because it will allow Centrelink to remove residency from free Australian citizens for exercising their right to travel and live outside of Australia as long as they wish, and they need to make plans for their future accordingly,

Best wishes and a Merry Christmas to you and your Family,